Chapter 6: Unexpected Turns

Abby sat quietly at her grandmother's house, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee cup. The familiar scent of warm cinnamon and fresh baking filled the air, a comfort in the midst of everything that had been happening. She hadn't come over for any particular reason, just needed a change of scenery. A few hours away from the hustle of the hospital, the mounting pressure from her own fears, and the steady hum of the oxygen machine that had become her constant companion with Carter.

But as she sipped her coffee, a sharp pain stabbed through her lower abdomen. She winced, setting the cup down quickly, her hands gripping the armrest of the chair. It was a quick, intense feeling, like someone had knotted her insides and was slowly pulling it tight.

"Abby?" Gammy's concerned voice came from the other room. Abby tried to push the discomfort away, but the pain lingered, sharp and sudden.

"I'm okay, Gammy," she called back, though she wasn't sure that was true. The ache in her belly seemed to grow stronger, the rhythmic pain coming in waves. It wasn't just a cramp; it felt different.

Abby took a slow breath, trying to steady herself. She knew better than to ignore the signs her body was sending her. She needed to tell Carter. The thought of it made her heart race—she wasn't sure if she was ready for him to worry, but this felt like something she couldn't keep to herself.

Pulling her phone out of her pocket, Abby found Carter's name and pressed the call button, willing her voice to remain steady. It rang three times before he answered.

"Hey, Abs. How's it going?"

"Carter," Abby's voice trembled just slightly. She clenched her jaw, feeling another wave of pain curl through her body. "I'm not feeling great. I've been having some cramps, and they're getting worse." She inhaled sharply as another wave hit. "I don't know what's going on, but it feels… off."

There was a pause on the other end, and Abby could almost feel the concern radiating from him, even through the phone.

"Where are you?" Carter asked, his tone urgent now. "Are you at home?"

"I'm at Gammy's house," she said, her hand gripping the phone harder. "I don't know if it's serious, but I think I should be checked out. It's just—" She cut herself off as the pain seemed to double in intensity, her vision swimming for a moment. She leaned forward in the chair, trying to steady herself.

"Abby, listen to me," Carter's voice was firm, yet filled with panic. "Don't move. Don't do anything until I get there. I'm going to need you to call Mark or Elizabeth—whoever's closest—and tell them to take you to the hospital. You can't wait on this."

"I… I don't know, Carter. I feel like I should just ride it out. Maybe it's just the pregnancy… it's still early." Her voice faltered again, another round of sharp pain radiating through her.

"No," Carter cut in, his voice rising with urgency. "Abby, you can't risk it. Please, I need you to do this for me. You need to get to the hospital. I'll be there as soon as I can, but I need you to be in good hands right now."

"I'll call them," Abby replied softly, her heart pounding. She knew he was right, but the fear she felt in his voice only intensified her own anxiety. She wanted him here with her. She didn't want to go through this alone.

"Don't hang up, Abs," Carter added quickly. "Stay on the phone with me until you can get help. I'm not far. I'm going to make sure I get to you, just—please don't wait too long."

"I won't," she promised, though she was already starting to feel lightheaded. The pain had settled into a dull throb, but it still wasn't right.

She quickly called Mark. As the phone rang, Abby leaned back into the chair, doing her best to remain calm, but everything felt like it was spinning. The tightness in her chest made it hard to breathe, and she was too scared to let herself even consider what might be happening.

"Abby?" Mark's voice came through loud and clear. "What's going on?"

"I'm having some cramps," she said, voice shaking. "They're getting worse. Carter's worried. He wants me to go to the hospital. Can you come get me?"

"I'll be there in ten minutes, Abby," Mark replied immediately. "Don't do anything until I get there, alright? I'm coming now."

"Okay," she breathed out, sinking deeper into the chair. The pain had started to recede again, leaving her with only the ache of nerves and the weight of uncertainty.

She closed her eyes, still holding the phone to her ear. "Carter," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared. What if something's wrong? What if I'm losing the baby?"

"I'm here, Abs," Carter said, his voice soft but unyielding. "And I'll be there as soon as I can. Just hold on. Everything's going to be okay. You're not alone."

A tear slipped down Abby's cheek as she nodded, even though he couldn't see her. The fear, the uncertainty—it was all too much.

Mark showed up not long after, pulling up to Gammy's house with Elizabeth in the passenger seat. Abby's heart gave a small flutter of relief as she saw them, but it was quickly replaced with dread as she stood to go to them. Her legs felt weak, and she could barely keep her balance, the sharpness of the cramps making everything feel worse.

"Abby," Mark said gently, his eyes wide with concern. "You alright?"

"I don't know," she replied, her voice strained. "It's just… it's happening so fast."

Elizabeth stepped out of the car, moving quickly to support Abby as she leaned against her. "Let's get you to the hospital, okay? We'll get you checked out, and everything will be fine. Just breathe."

Abby tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like her chest wouldn't expand fully. Still, she let Elizabeth guide her to the car, and Mark drove as fast as he could without making it worse for her.

Back at the hospital, Abby was immediately taken in for observation. The doctors wanted to run tests to make sure everything was alright, but Abby's heart was pounding with fear. Carter still wasn't there, but she knew he would be, as soon as he could.

"Abby," Elizabeth said softly as she took a seat beside her, "Everything's going to be okay. You're strong, and so is that baby. Whatever this is, we'll figure it out."

Abby nodded, trying to believe her. The pain had faded again, but the worry was still there, gnawing at her. What if it wasn't okay?

And then, just as the doctor entered the room, Carter's voice echoed through the door, frantic and full of relief. "Abby!" He rushed to her side, his eyes scanning her face before settling on her belly. "You're alright? What's happening?"

She couldn't hold back the tears now, her emotions pouring out as she reached for him. "I don't know. I'm scared, Carter. What if—"

"We'll get through this, Abs," he whispered, holding her hand tightly, a sense of determination flooding his voice. "We're not alone in this. We're going to be okay."

But for now, they could only wait, the uncertainty hanging over them as they braced for whatever came next.